Telescope sight mount



33-249. 0R 2,803,880 5R SECH ROOM Aug. 27, 1957 w. R. WEAVER 2,803,880

TELESCOPE SIGHT MOUNT Filed oci. s, 1955 I 2 sheets-sheet 1 l l l I W////a/77 Wea/Ver Aug. 27, 1957 w. R. WEAVER TELEscoPE SIGHT MOUNT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 3, 1955 VV////0'/7? f?. Wea ver INVENTOR United States Patent O TELESCOPE SIGHT MOUNT William R. Weaver, El Paso, Tex.

Application October 3, 1955, Serial No. 538,003

7 Claims. (Cl. 33-50) This invention relates to a telescope sight mount for firearms and particularly to a hinged or pivoted type sight mount. v

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a pivoted sight mount for a telescope sight by which the sight, while remaining secured to a firearm, may be swung to and from sighting position on the firearm without requiring re-adjustment of the sight.

An important object is to provide a hinged sight mount including a base member and clamping rings in which the sight is supported, the rings being pivotally secured to the base member and having spring type lock means for locking the rings to the base member when in closed position.

A further object is to provide a novel form of hinge means for connecting the mounting rings to the base, said hinge means providing improved bearing surfaces adapted to resist or obviate recoil effect of the firearm on the mount.

Still another object is to provide in a hinged sight mount, telescope clamping rings of two-part construction, one portion comprising a hook-on type cap which is secured to the other complementary portion of the ring by means of a hook means at one end and a screw connection at the other end.

Other and more specific objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustrates useful embodiments of a sight mount in accordance with this invention.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a firearm having a telescope sight mounted thereon by means of a mounting structure in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the sight mount in closed or sighting position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation, looking toward the lefthand side of the structure as seen in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but showing the sight mount in open unlocked position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a sight mount in accordance with another embodiment of this invention; and

Fig. 7 is a view, partly in section, taken generally along line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to the embodiment illustrated by Figs. l to 5, there is shown a telescope sight, designated generally by the numeral 10, of generally conventional construction and having a tubular barrel 11 which is mounted on a firearm 12 by means of mounting devices, designated generally by the numerals 13-13.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the sight mount comprises, a pair of the mounting devices 13-13 whichV "ice are disposed in longitudinally spaced relation along the top of the firearm 12 and oriented in the same direction. The mounting devices may be mounted directly on the top of the firearm barrel 14, or it will be understood that they may be mounted on the portion of the firearm commonly referred to as the receiver into which the rear end portion of the firearm barrel conventionally extends.

Each of the mounting devices 13 comprises, a base member 15 and a mounting ring, designated generally by the numeral 23. Base member 15 is of generally rectangular shape having a curved lower face 16 adapted to fit the curvature of the firearm barrel or receiver, as the case may be. Base member 15 is adapted to be secured to the firearm barrel or receiver by any suitable securing means, such as the counter-sunk screws 17 extending through the base member into the firearm barrel or receiver, as best seen in Fig. 2. Along one longitudinal edge the base member is undercut at 18 to form along its upper margin a longitudinal laterally projecting lip 19, the function of which will be described in more detail hereinafter. At the edge opposite lip 19, base member 15 is provided with an outwardly projecting generally cylindrical hinge lug 20 (Fig. 3) having an axially positioned tapered socket 21 in one end thereof and a flat imperforate end face 22 at the other end thereof. Lug. 20 is positioned generally equidistant the ends of base member 15, although the exact position thereof is not critical. Mounting ring 23 is hingedly secured to lug 20 and is of two-part segmental construction comprising a generally semi-circular saddle member 24 and a complementary generally semi-circular cap 25. Saddle member 24 has a generally semi-circular seat 26 therein adapted to receive sight barrel 11. Saddle member 24 is provided at one side with a pair of longitudinally spaced hinge lugs or ears 27 and 28 separated by a slot 29 adapted to receive lug 20. A hinge screw 30 is adapted to be screwed through a threaded opening 31 extending longitudinally through the center of ear 27 and is provided with a tapered tip 32 adapted to be received in tapered socket 21 in lug 20. Ear 27 may be provided with a transverse slot 33 to afford a degree of longitudinal resilience in ear 27. The inner end of ear 28 is formed to provide a fiat imperforate surface 34 against which fiat end face 22 of lug 20 may be thrust by pressure of hinge screw 30 acting through the engagement of tapered tip 32 on tapered socket 21.

With the hinge arrangement described, it will be seen that when tapered tip 32 is inserted lin socket 21 and the hinge screw tightened suiciently, the fiat faces 22 and 34 will be urged toward each other and will provide a flat bearing surface of substantially large area between these members. This relatively large bearing surface will effectively prevent dislocation of the sight mount under impacts resulting from a recoil of the firearm and during handling, and will also provide a smooth bearing surface for the pivoting movement of the mounting ring about the base member.

The upper end of saddle member 24 opposite ears 28 is provided on its outer side with an inwardly directed, longitudinally extending notch or groove 35 adapted to receive an inwardly turned lip 36 formed on the adjacent end of cap 25, being adapted to form with groove 35 a hinge-type connection between cap 25 and saddle member 24 at one end thereof. Cap 25 is provided on the end opposite lip 36 with an outwardly turned fiange 37 which is adapted to seat against a flat face 38 on the adjacent end of saddle member 24. One or more screws 39 extend through flange 37 and are adapted to be screwed into the saddle member 24, as shown particularly in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

A resilient latch detent 40 has one end secured, as by means of screws 40a, to the outer face of saddle member 24 adjacent recess 35 and projects downwardly along the face of the saddle member to a point which is generally opposite lip 19 when the mounting ring is rotated to the closed or operative position, illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 and 2.

The free end of the latch detent may be provided with an inwardly turned keeper lip 41 adapted to hook over lip 19 and resiliently engage beneath lip 19, the detent thereby forming a resilient latch to lock the mounting ring to the base member in the closed or operative position. It will be understood that by pulling keeper lip 41 outwardly away from lip 19, mounting ring 23 can be released from base member 15 and rotated to the left (as viewed in Fig. 2) to swing the sight out of sighting position along the firearm. However, normally the mount is opened merely by pushing the scope to the side with sufiicient force to draw keeper lip 41 over lip 19. It will be understood also that in order to return the sight to its operative position on base member 15, the mounting ring will be rotated back to the position shown in Fig. 2 and as the ring moves toward the base member, keeper lip 41 will be forced over lip 19 and will engage beneath the lip to thereby close the latch, locking the ring member to the base member.

The hook-on cap 25 provides a very simple and easy way for securely mounting the telescope sight in the ring member. By removing screws 39, cap member 25 can be swung around the pivoted connection formed by lip 36 and recess 35 to permit the telescope to be seated in or removed from the mounting ring. When seated in the saddle portion, cap 25 can be swung back over the sight barrel and screws 39 inserted and screwed down as tightly as may be necessary to securely position the sight in the rings.

As noted previously, in one embodiment the telescope sight mount, in accordance with this invention, may comprise a pair of mounting rings 23, as described.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the mounting rings are identical with those previously illustrated, but a single elongate base member 45 is employed which, in cross section, is identical with base member 15 of the previously described embodiment and is adapted to be secured to the top of the firearm by means of the screws 46-46. Base member 45 is provided at longitudinally spaced points with lugs 20a and 20b which are identical in construction with lug 20 of the previously described embodiment, each being provided at one end (the rearward end) with a blank surface 22a corresponding to the end surface 22 and at the other end with a tapered socket 21. The pair of mounting rings 23 can then be secured to the respectively lugs 20a and 20b in exactly the same manner as previously described, namely, by means of hinge lugs 27 and 28 and hinge screw 30. The longitudinal edge of base member 45, opposite lugs 20a and 20b, is provided with an outwardly projecting lip 19a corresponding in shape to lip 19 of the first described embodiment and is adapted to be engaged by keeper lips 41 of the detents 40 on both mounting rings.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the mount is released from the base member by releasing keeper lips 41-41 from their engagement with lip 19a which will then permit the sight to be swung about the hinged connections at the back of the base member to one side of the firearm out of sighting position. When it is necessary to return the sight to its operative sighting position on top of the firearm, it is swung back and keeper lips 41 snapped over lip 19a.

By means of the described mounts, it will be seen that a telescope sight positioned in the mounts may be swung to and from operative position on the firearm repeatedly and in each instance, when returned to sighting position, will return to its previously sighted-in position and will be securely locked in that position.

It will be noted that in each of the embodiments the arrangement of the bearing members of the hinges is such that the thrust on both hinges is in the same direction longitudinally of the sight axis which aids greatly in preventing the sight from getting out of line during use.

It will be understood that various other alterations and modifications may be made in the details of the illustrative embodiments within the scope of the appended claims but without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. ln a telescope sight mount for firearms, a mounting device, comprising, a base member adapted to be secured on top of a firearm, a support ring adapted to be secured about a telescope sight barrel, hingemeansfcomprisingm cooperating hinge members on the ring and base member hingedly connecting the ring to one sigle, QLthefbase membenfer-swimging-mevemmetweenpositions on top andtoone-side-ofY said-base..mem'lfarrdlresilient latch means mounted on the ring opposite said base member, the hinge member on said base member comprising a generally circular hinge lug having a tapered socket in one end face thereof, the other end face being of fiat imperforate form, and the hinge member on said ring cornprising a pair of longitudinally spaced hinge ears adapted to receive said lug between them, one of said ears having a flat imperforate end face engageable by the imperforate face of said lug, and a hinge pin extending through the other of said ears and having a tapered tip pivotally receivable in said socket.

2. A telescope sight mount for firearms, comprising, a pair of mounting devices as defined by claim 1 disposed in longitudinally spaced relation on top of a firearm.

3. A telescope sight mount according to claim 1 where` in said support ring comprises a pair of generally semicircular complementary portions, a swingable hinge connection between said portions at one end, and screw-secured flange means connecting the opposite ends of said portions.

` 4. A telescope sight mount according to claim 3 wherein said swingable hinge connection includes a recess in the outer face of one of said portions adjacent an end thereof, and an inwardly turned hook element on the adjacent end of the other portion extending into said recess.

5. A telescope sight mount according to claim 1 wherein said base member has a laterally projecting longitudinally extending lip along the side thereof opposite said hinge means, said lip being releasably engageable by said latch means.

6. A telescope sight mount for firearms, comprising, an elongate generally rectangular base member adapted to be secured on top of a firearm, a pair of split support rings adapted to be secured in longitudinally spaced relation about a telescope sight barrel, a pair of longitudinally spaced hinge units hingedly connecting said rings to said base member for swinging movement between positions on top and to one side of said base member, each hinge unit including one hinge member comprising a hinge lug having a tapered socket in one end face thereof, the other end face being of flat imperforate form, a second hinge member comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced hinge ears adapted to receive said lug between them, one of said ears having a flat imperforate end face engageable by the imperforate end face of said lug, and a hinge pin extending through the other of said ears and having a tapered tip pivotally receivable in said socket, said base member having a laterally projecting lip extending longitudinally thereof on the side opposite said hinge members, and resilient latch means mounted on each of said rings adapted to resiliently latch over said lip for releasably securing said rings to said lip.

7. In a telescope sight mount for firearms, a mounting device, comprising, a base member adapted to be secured on top of a firearm, a support ring adapted to be secured about a telescope sight barrel, hinge means comprising cooperating hinge members on the ring and base member hingedly connecting the ring to one side of the base member for swinging movement between positions on top and to one side of said base member, one of said hinge members comprising a hinge lug having a tapered socket in one end face thereof, the other end face being of at imperforate form, the other of said hinge members comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced hinge ears adapted to receive said lug between them, one of said ears having a at imperforate end face engageable by the imperforate end face of said lug, a hinge pin extending through the other of said ears and having a tapered tip pivotally receivable in said socket, and resilient latch means for releasably connecting the ring to said base member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

